Portland is set to start providing transgender health care benefits for city employees following advocacy by civil rights groups.

A federal Department of Health and Human Services rule effective in July will forbid health insurers that receive federal financial assistance from excluding treatments related to gender transition.

The rule doesn't apply to self-insured groups like large businesses and local governments.

Many companies, like Time Warner Cable, have already announced they'll provide such benefits.

LGBT advocates are now working to get local governments on board.

Portland's city council will consider such a resolution on June 20. Maine LGBT groups say more than 60 cities across the nation, including Boston, Providence, Rhode Island, and Burlington, Vermont, have similar policies.